Chapter 4

I was woken up by a phone call at 3 AM.

"Hey Sophia, Lucas is wasted. Can you come pick him up? I'll send you the location - get here fast!"

I stayed silent, but they forgot to hang up.

Lucas's familiar voice drifted through.

"Bet you anything she'll come crawling over here to get me real quick."

His buddies burst out laughing: "Didn't you say she's pissed about number 18? Might be a long shot this time, man!"

Lucas snorted: "She's just jealous, trying to get my attention. That's what chicks do."

"Remember that time you lost truth or dare and gave her a fake location? Middle of winter, 2 AM, she ran all the way up the mountain and waited there all night, nearly froze to death! And after that, one 'sorry babe, I was drunk' and she wasn't mad anymore?"

"Sophia's not just obsessed - she's basically Lucas's damn pet dog!"

Listening to their mocking laughter, I felt strangely calm.

I should've seen through this ages ago. If Lucas hung out with trash like this, how could he be anything but trash himself?

I hung up and sent a text.

【Whoever lost their dog should go find it themselves.】

Turned off my phone and closed my eyes.

I felt nothing.

Lucas lost face in front of his boys and wanted to take it out on me, but when he got to my old place, he found out I was long gone.

He tried calling me only to discover I'd blocked him.

【Sophia, where the hell did you go? You've got one day to come back and apologize, or I'm marrying someone else. Didn't you always want to marry me?】

I got Lucas's message while staring in amazement at the man in front of me.

Light rain was falling, and the man held an umbrella with elegant grace, looking like some kind of aristocrat straight out of a movie.

Beneath his dark tousled hair, those piercing steel-blue eyes were locked on me like he was afraid I'd vanish any second.

His jaw was sharp enough to cut glass, and even in the dim light, I could see the powerful build of his shoulders beneath his perfectly tailored coat.

"Aren't you supposed to be overseas handling the pack business?"

"Nothing's more important than you."

Marcus's words were earnest, every syllable dead serious.

I could feel his sincerity, so I hesitated: "How much do you know about my situation?"

"Everything."

"So you know I was with someone for six years?"

"He never deserved you."

"Why wait for me all these years but never make a move?"

"My heart chose you, but I was raised better than to steal another man's she-wolf. So I waited for you, Sophia."

I thought this man was kind of crazy.

"Just waited? What if it never worked out?"

Marcus stepped closer, leaning down toward me, his eyes soft: "I've always been lucky. From the moment I first saw you, I knew you'd end up by my side eventually."

I suddenly laughed.

"Has anyone ever told you you're pretty confident, Marcus?"

Marcus raised an eyebrow: "And?"

I took a deep breath: "So mark me. Let's get our mating certificate today."

After getting our mating certificate, I started a new life. Everything felt different now, but Lucas still believed I was the same person who used to wait around for him.

He was convinced I was just throwing a tantrum.

The guy who never once made our relationship Facebook official suddenly started posting constantly about him and Linda. Every day brought a new photo of their perfect relationship.

Then came the post that made my phone buzz with notifications from mutual friends:

【This diamond ring could've belonged to someone else, but disobedient pet dogs need to be taught a lesson.】

The photo showed him holding Linda's hand. That flashy diamond ring on her finger looked pathetic more than anything. The comments were full of people asking who the "someone else" was.

My phone rang. It was Lucas.

"Did you see my post?" His voice carried that familiar smugness. "That ring was supposed to be yours, Sophia. But you had to go and act out."

"I don't care about your ring, Lucas."

"Come on. We both know you're dying inside right now." He laughed. "Linda's sweet, but she's not you. She doesn't know me like you do."

I hung up.

Minutes later, he messaged me:

【I'm taking Linda around the world for engagement photos. You better think long and hard about your attitude. When I get back in six months, if you're good, I might consider swapping her out for you.】

I stared at those words. Six months ago, I would have cried. I would have begged him to reconsider. I would have promised to be better.

Now? I felt nothing but disgust.

I deleted my account and reported Lucas to the Alpha Council for the kidnapping he'd orchestrated.